Time recording device



Dec. 29, 1942. J; AQv/ILLHI TE 2,306,770

TIME RECORDING 'DEVICE Filed Aug. 26, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 De@ 29, 1942' J. A. wxLLHn-E 2,305,770

TIME RECORDING DEVICE Dec. 29, l1.942. J. A. WILLI-ITE 2,306,770

TIME RECORDING DEVICE Filed Aug. 26, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 29, f 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to a time recording device.

An object of the invention is to provide a device which will receive in separate pockets identifying media and accurately record the time when the identifying media were deposited in their respective pockets. A device of this character is advantageously employed in pigeon competitions wherein competing pigeons are equipped with identifying bands or tags at the start of the flight or race. Upon reaching their home lifts the bands or tags of the competitors are removed and are deposited in separate pockets in the time recording device and an accurate record made of the time of deposit.

Another object of the invention is to provide a time recording device of the above character which is adequately protected against tampering or fraudulently recording an erroneous time.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a time recording device having a plurality of pockets adapted to be consecutively opened to have identifying media deposited therein, and thereafter closed, and to provide means for preventing overrunning of the device, that is, means for preventing continued operation so that once that a pocket has been opened to receive identifying media it cannot be again opened without involving an entire resetting of the construction.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, '9

which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 2-2 upon Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 3 3 upon Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 4-4 upon Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a partial view in vertical section taken substantially upon the line 5 5 upon Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a partial view in elevation taken substantially in the direction of the arrow 6 upon Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a partial view illustrating a position of the marking striker illustrated in Fig, 5 when initially set.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the time recording device embodying the present invention comprises a suitable case, housing, or cabinet consisting of a box-like structure IIJ equipped with a cover I I that may be hinged as by a hinge I2. Any suitable locking means may be employed for locking the cover in closed position.

In the preferred form of construction the box III is equipped with one or more windows I3. On the interior of the cover there is mounted a suitable clockworks I4 which may have a dial with hands traversing the same which is visible through the window I3. The clockworks I4 operates and rotates three discs I5, I6, and II on the periphery of which there are embossed numerals indicative of hours, minutes, and seconds7 respectively. Thus, the disc I5 may -be rotated by the clockworks at a speed representative of hours. The disc I 6 may be rotated at a speed representative of minutes, and the disc II rotated at a speed representative of seconds. Beneath these discs there is stretched across the box Il] a section of inking ribbon I8, this ribbon being stretched between hooks I9 mounted on the interior of the box. Thus, when a disc or paper, such as that indicated at 20, is forced upwardly against the inking ribbon I8 the embossed numerals on the discs I5, iii, and I'I will cause to be imprinted on the paper numerals indicative of the time.

On the bottom of the box there is a vertically extending pin or stud 2I on which is rotatable a circular cam member 22 and a pocketed rotary body 23 having pockets 24 formed therein which may be consecutively brought into registry with an opening 25 in one of the walls of the box It. L The body 23 is equipped with upper and lower sets of ratchet teeth, the lower teeth being indicated at 26, there being one tooth for each pocket. As will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 4 the pockets 2li are equally spaced from one another but between the beginning pocket and end pocket on the body there is a blank space 21 in which no pocket is formed. The number of teeth 2S correspond in number to the total number of pockets 24 plus an additional tooth for the blank space 21. On the upper surface of the body 23 there are formed ratchet teeth 23 which likewise are equal in number to the number of pockets plus the blank space. These teeth are adapted to be engaged by anti-backup pawls 29 pivotallf.7 mounted on the interior of the box I which permit the body 23 to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed on Fig. 2, but prevent reverse rotation. One of the teeth as indicated at 3D has two vertical sides whereas the remaining teeth 28 are each equipped with one vertical side and one inclined side. Tooth 30 is adapted to be engaged by a pawl 3| pivoted to the interior of the box I at the end of one complete revolution of the body 23. Thus the body 23 may be rotated through one complete revolution exposing the pockets 24 consecutively through the opening 25. During the revolution pawl 3l merely rides across the inclined surfaces of the teeth 28 but on encountering tooth 30 at the end of the complete revolution further rotation of the body 23 is prevented. When pawl 3l engages tooth 30 the blank space 21 is disposed opposite opening 25.

The cam member 22 is externally grooved as at 32 and in the groove there is trained a flexible element, such as a cable 33, attached to a handle or knob 34 disposed on the exterior of box Il). The other end of the cable or flexible element is attached to a screw 35 that is radially adjustable with respect to the cam member. spring 35 is also attached to the screw 35 and to a suitable pin 31 which normally urges the cam member into a position wherein the head of the screw is engaging a plate 38 on the interior of the box. member, rather closely lits the interior of the box and is rotatable on the stud or pin 2 I. The cam member serves to support the body member and is equipped with teeth 39 complementary in number and shape to the teeth 25 on the body member. The top of the body member is ilat except for some pins 4I! which serve to mount a replaceable disc of paper or cardboard 20 thereon. Within these pins there may also be formed an annular groove 4 I.`

The operation of the above-described construction is as follows. Oicials supervising the race supply each person having entrant pigeons with one of the time recording devices. Prior to delivery of the time recording device a new disc 20 is applied and signed and dated by two of the ocials. The clockworks I4 is wound and started running which causes the discs I5, I5, and I'I to progressively rotate in accordance with time. The pigeon owner whose pigeons are engaged in the race removes the band or tag from the competing pigeons when they arrive at their home loft. The first band removed is inserted through the opening 25 into the pocket 24 and the knob or handle 34 is pulled. This brings about a partial counterclockwise revolution of the cam member 22 advancing the body member 23 a distance of one step or another tooth. As the body member is thus rotated the first pocket 24 passes out of registrtion with the opening 25 retaining the 4 removed band of the first pigeon therein. The succeeding pocket 24 is automatically brought into registration with the opening 25 to receive the band of a succeeding pigeon. When the knob 34 is released, backup or clockwise rotation of the body member is prevented by the backup pawls 2S. During the return motion of the cam member under the influence of spring 3G, the teeth 39 function as cams bodily lifting the body member from the full-line position shown in Fig. e to the dotted line position shown therein. This lifts the disc 2] into engagement with the under side of rib-bon I8 and presses it rmly against the body of discs I5, I5, and I'I so as to .record the time at which the body member was moved to pass the rst pocket 24 out of registry with opening 25. The time thus recorded is consequently indicative of the time when the band removed from the pigeon was deposited in the pocket 24. When the cam member completes The cam member, like the body its return movement to its initial position the high points on the teeth 2S and 39 disengage allowing the body member to drop and the second pocket 24 is then in position to receive the band of the succeeding pigeon after which knob 34 may be pulled and the operation repeated.

It will be noted that the axis of rotation of the discs I5, I5, and I'I is so arranged as to be over the position assumed by a pocket 24 after it has completed its rst step rom opening 25. Consequently, with continued operations of the machine, the time will be printed on the disc 20 over each respective pocket. Thus, when the time recorder is opened and the individual bands or tags are extracted from the pockets the times at which they were individually deposited in their respective pockets will be automatically recorded immediately thereabove. The operation of the time recorder and the deposit of the bands or tags in the pockets is allowed to continue for one complete revolution of the body member at which time pawl 3! engages tooth 30 locking the body member against continued operation.

It will be understood that in devices of this character it is customary to have the devices opened and inspected by oicials in charge of the race. As a means for preventing opening of the box and tampering'with its contents, I provide in one corner of the box a sleeve 45, see Fig. 5, within which is a spring elevated plunger 46 having a stem 4l. The top of the plunger is engageable by the cover I I when the cover is in closed position to force the stem downwardly. Adjacent the sleeve there is a pivoted trigger 48 having a piercing point 49 and an arm 50 which extends through an elongated slot 5I in the stem. On the underside of the arm 5i] there is a notch 53 engageable by the bottom'of the stemto hold the trigger in fully retracted position against the action of a spring 5d. Prior to the initial closing of the box the trigger is set in the position illustrated in Fig. 7 wherein the bottom of the stem is engaged in notch 53. When the cover II is first closed, this depresses plunger shifting the stem out of notch 53. The end of the arm 50, however, engages the top of the slot 5I so that the trigger is not 'entirely released but assumes a position similar to 'that illustrated in full lines on Fig. 5. In this position the trigger may be regarded as having been cocked. When the cover II is next opened, this allows plunger 45 to be elevated by the spring and release arm in which case trigger 4B is swung downwardly by spring 54 puncturin-g disc 25. Inspectors of the time recording device can thus readily ascertain Whether or not the time recording device has been opened or tampered with for if they observe more than one puncture in the disc 29 occasioned by the oilcials or inspectors themselves opening the box, the plurality of punctures will indicate that the cover I I has been lifted.

From the above-described construction lt will be appreciated that the improved time recording device is relatively simple and durable in its operation. It is highly advantageous in that the body member 23 provides quite a large number of pockets 24, each of which is capable of receiving a separate identiication band or tag. The time of deposit of each tag is automatically recorded above the pocket receiving the same on disc 20. Furthermore, suitable precaution is taken against unauthorized tampering.

It is not essential in all instances that the body member and cam member be circular in form or be rotatable as illustrated. I have developed devices embodying the present invention wherein both the cam member and pocketed body member are linear as distinguished from annular as shown. The annular arrangement however is regarded by me as preferable in that a more compact form of construction is permissible. In the construction shown, adjustment of the device to cause the pockets 2t to properly align or register with the opening 25 is accomplished by the radial adjustment of the screw 35. Manifestly, if this screw is adjusted outwardly, the length of throw or movement of the cam member by pulling the knob 31! is reduced and if the screw is adjusted inwardly the throw of the cam member is increased. If will be appreciated that the present invention provides a means for easily recording and determining accurately when the identifying media has been deposited within the device, and while the construction has been primarily designed for use in conjunction with pigeon racing, it may be used for analogous purposes.

Various changes may be made in the details oi construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a pccketed body the pockets of which are adapted to have deposited therein identifying media whose time of deposit is to be recorded, said body having ratchet teeth thereon, a cooperating ratchet, means for moving the cooperating ratchet to cause it to shift the body to close a pocket that has received its identifying media expose a new pocket, means for preventing backup move f ment of the body, means for returning the cooperating ratchet to its initial position, and means for holding the cooperating ratchet against lateral displacement whereby upon return of the cooperating ratchet to its initial position said body will be laterally displaced, and means operable by the lateral displacement of the body for recording the time of movement of the body and consequently the time of deposit of the identifying media in the pocket.

2. A device of the class described comprising a pocketed body the pockets of which are adapted to have deposited therein identifying media Whose time of deposit is to be recorded, means for moving the body with a step by step motion to close one pocket and open a succeeding pocket, means for moving the body laterally at the end of each step, and means operable upon the lateral movement of the body for recording the time when each pocket is closed.

3. A device of the class described comprising a pocketed body the pockets of which are adapted to have deposited therein identifying media whose time of deposit is to be recorded, means for moving the body with a step by step motion to consecutively close pockets and open succeeding pockets, time recording means, said body being adapted to have a replaceable record mounted thereon, and means for moving the body laterally at the end of each step to bring the replaceable record into engagement with the time recording means to have the time of closing each pocket recorded.

4. A device of the class described comprising a housing, time recording means in the housing, a pooketed body movable in the housing adapted to have its pockets consecutively opened by being brought into registry with an opening in the housing, means for moving said body with a step by step motion, said time recording means being disposed laterally of the body, and means for moving the body laterally at the end of each step to record the time oi closing each pocket.

5. A device of the class described comprising a housing, time recording means in the housing, a pocketed body movable the housing adapted to have its pockets consecutively opened by being brought into registry with an opening in the housing, said body having a set of ratchet teeth, one tooth for each pocket, means having complementary ratchet teeth movable within the housing to impart step by step motion to the body, means for preventing reverse movement of the body during return of the complementary ratchet tooth means to its initial position, means for preventing lateral movement of said complementary toothed means during its return movement, and means for returning the complementary ratchet toothed means to its initial position so as to laterally shift the body at the end of each step to engage the time recording means and have the time of each step of the body recorded.

6. A device oi the class described comprising a housing, time recording means in the housing, an annular poeketed body movabie in the housing adapted to have its pockets consecutively opened by being brought into registry with an opening in the housing, said body having a set of ratchet teeth, one tooth for each pocket, a member having complementary ratchet teeth engaging the ratchet teeth on the body, means for moving said member and returning it to its initial position to impart a step by step motion to said body, means for preventing backup motion by the body, and means for preventing lateral displacement of said member during its return movement whereby when said member is returned to its initial position the body will be forced laterally into engagement with the time recording means.

7. A device of the class described, comprising a housing, time recording means in the housing, an annular pocketed body rotatable within the housing beneath the time recording means adapt-l ed to have its pockets consecutively opened by being brought into registry with an opening in the housing, an annular member rotatable in the housing supporting said body, said body and member having mutually engageable ratchet teeth, means for rotating said member a distance suicient to move the body to expose the pockets consecutively, means for returning said member to its initial position, means for holding said member against lateral displacement during its return, and means for preventing backup motion by the body whereby upon return of the member to its initial position the body will be lifted into engagement with the time recording means.

JESSE A. WILLHITE. 

